Grease pump with high-pressure pulsating means



W. HARRIGAN Sept. 4, 1951 GREASE PUMP WITH HIGH-PRESSURE PULSATING MEANS 5 Sheets-Sheet l Filed March 26, 1949 {Zara Sept. 4,1951 w. HARRIGAN 2,566,702

GREASE PUMP WITH HIGH-PRESSURE PULSATING MEANS 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 26, 1949 In I Q) M 7 1; 1/, 935'" I III I;\ V I Wig 421m f zrr/ 2172/ Sept- 1951 w. HARRIGAN 2,566,702

GREASE PUMP WITH HIGH-PRESSURE PULSATING MEANS 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed'March 26, 1949 Isma P 1951 w. HARRIGAN 2,566,702

GREASE PUMP WITH HIGH-PRESSURE PULSATING MEANS Filed March 26, 1949 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 v I y Sept. 4, 1951 v w, HARRlGAN 2,566,702

GREASE PUMP WITH HIGH-PRESSURE PULSATING MEANS Filed March 26, 1949 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Patented Sept. 4, I951 GREASE PUMP'WITH HIGH-PRESSURE PULiSATINGr 'MEAN S William Harrigan, Rutherford, 'N. J assignor to Chieftain industries, Inc New York, N. Y., a

corporation of Delaware Application March 26, 1949, Serial N0. 83,648

.1 .Claim. 1

This invention relates .in general to apparatus for supplying under pressurexto the :desiredipoirrt -.of use, liquids or semi-liquid or viscous (substances, for example lubricating greases; and moreparticularly the invention contemplates an apparatus for forcing lubricating grease into machine bearings.

One object of the invention-isto provide apparatus of this character which shall be capable :of :dispensing heavy'or extremely viscous lubri- -cantsrmore efficiently than has been-possible hereztof ore.

Another :object is to provide apparatus for dispensingviscou substances which :shall embody :novel :and improved features of construction whereby the substance to be dispensed, for example a heavy lubricating grease, can be forced to -the pointof use in a pulsating stream at high pressures so that the pulsating stream will have a 'hainmer like action on for example frozen tor rusty bearings, to facilitate the flow of said substance.

Aturther-bbject isto provide such-a dispensing apparatus which shall be so constructed-as'to supply a continuous stream of grease at a low "pressure of ior example one -hundred poundsand at the 1 same time :cause high pressure-pulsations din sa id stream, for example at three" thousand pounds pressure. r

A still further object-of the inventionis-to "provide a 'dispensing apparatus for viscoussub- "stances vvhich' sha'll include novel and improved :means for withdrawing the substance-to'be dis- *pensed directly from a drum or other container and-eiliciently feeding it to a dispensing pump.

Otherxobjects: are to provide in dispensing-ap- :=paratus "of this -character,-a novel and improved 'ziconstruction and arrangement '-of "valves I where- -bythe pressure of the dispensedsubstance may wbe'scontrolled at thewilllof the :operator for regrealatinglthe' dispensingzpressure andztor automatimelievingexcessive :pressure, so that the :ap- .paratus :shall :be-easily controlled iandasaie :and I toiio-btain rany advantages andresults that ivvill be :brought outlay thefollowing description liI1'QI1- Junction with-the accompanying .zdravvings in Figure 1.1 is re vertical longitudinal ,,:;s:ectiona1 -view,. partially in side"selevationsoi1a dispensin epparatuscconstructed inpaccordancewith theino vention, -=approximately on the plane ,-.oi the line 4-1 of Figure 2;

nEigures 2, 13, -.4 and .15 .-.are. horizontal sectional views approximately on the planes of the lines 1-.2-@2, =83, 4-4 rand 5-5, respectivelyeofofllm wpres-1 container.

Figure 6 is :a fragmentary tran verse vertical sectional view approximately on the plane :Qif the line '6--'6 of Figure22;

Figure 7 is a fragmentaryplan view-.of:a1modifled form of the feeding plate for withdrawing the grease from its container andiorcing it into the inletof the dispensing. pump;

Figure 8 is a fragmentary vertical .;sectional view of a modification of the invention;

Figure 9 is a horizontal sectional :viewiapproximately on the plane-of the line fleet ofzliigure 8;

Figure 10 is a fragmentary partial-side :elcvationaland partial vertical sectional viewnfaagdispensing apparatus embodying aa modificatlonsoi vproximately on the plane of 'the'line 14-4-4 of Figure'lS.

Specifically describing the embodiment ofjth'e invention illustrated in Figures 11 to fif llollls' vg the apparatus comprises a container oritankA for the substance .to be dispensed whichjhassuitable means for supporting within it a cantor drum .3 of the substance to be dispensed, for. example heavy lubricating grease. v As.s'l 1o,vvr1, a plurality of spring hooks I .aresecured to the insidenof the walls of the container .A to receive theorimjz oi the can or drum Band to support said canvor drum in inverted position, in rthettank. ,iInstead of thespring hooks ,Laplurality, of 'ledgesror seats may be secured inside the tanktojorm .seatsfor the rim of the canordrumB.

Within the vcontainer A "and vsup ziorted on the bottom A thereof .is a pumping-apparatusincludes -.-a frame or casing having ,agear pump therein. As-shown, this gearvpumpincludes a pump chamber 5 in which are journaledtwo gears 6 one of which is mounted on avertical counter drive shaft T-WhlOh ,-iS dII-1Vl'l hyworm earing la from a drive shaft 8wwh1ch;= is-.;,con-

nected to any suitablesource of po wer,,. isr example'an electric motor D mounted outsidepfvthe The pump chamber -..5--has an outlet passage 9 and an inlet llhvhich iaces upwardly 1 into the inverted-cantor ,olrum D and has .an,up standing flange H at one side thelleof.

Above the pumpingapparatus =and,n1ounted pn -...the counter shaft 1 -a -comb.ine.d agltatpmand feeder E which comprises a plurality of radial arms I2 each of which has a depending flange I 3 on the trailing edge thereof, said flanges being of such dimensions as to extend throughout the major portion of the length of the inlet opening I and barely clear the horizontal edge of the flange II as said arms rotate across the inlet opening.

A vertically disposed scraper arm I2a is secured to the agitator and feeder E and extends upwardly almost to the bottom of the drum B so as to contact with the irmer wall of the drum to remove any grease that may tend to adhere to said wall. If desired, a tow rod I2b which is curved so as to conform to the configuration of the cylindrical wall of the drum is provided to give support to the upper end of the scraper arm I2a.

With this construction; it will be observed that when the motor D is running, the gear pump 5, 6 will be operated so as to draw the substance from the drum B into the inlet opening I9 and force said substance through the pump outlet 9. At the same time, the arms I2 and flanges I3 of the feeding device E will draw the substance from the drum and force it against the flange II and into the inlet ID with a mashing or agi tating action on said substance.

The pump outlet passage 9 is connected through an outwardly opening check valve I4 to a discharge passage I5 to which is connected a hose I6 for conducting the dispensed substance to the desired point of use, for example to a machine bearing, the hose having a suitable valved nozzle I1. Thus, when the pump is operated, grease will be forced in a continuous stream through the outlet hose I6 so long as the nozzle IT is open. After the nozzle is closed or some other obstruction to the flow of the substance through the hose is encountered, the excessive pressure caused thereby is relieved or by-passed into the container by a check valve controlled passage I8 (see Figure 3).

Generally the pump gears rotate at slow speed, for example 34.5 R. P. M. so as to ensure a steady flow of the substance Without danger of cavitation in the pump passages, and the dispensing pressure is about 100 lbs. In order to provide a higher pressure and at the same time make the stream of substance pulsate, I may pr0- vide a cam I9 on the counter shaft I and a reciprocating piston 20 actuatable in one direction by the cam and mounted in a cylinder 2! in the casing of the pumping apparatus, a spring 22 being provided to actuate the piston in the other direction. The cylinder 2| communicates with the outlet passage 9 of the pump through a bypassage 23 so that substance in the passage 9 is supplied to the cylinder 2! when the piston 29 is withdrawn therefrom as shown in Figure 1. The cylinder 22 has a check valve controlled outlet 24 which communicates through a duct 25 with the discharge passage I5 at the outlet side of. the check valve I4. Thus, when the pump is operating, the piston 20 will be rapidly reciprocated and force the substance being dispensed into the hose I6 with a pulsating action and at relatively high pressure, for example 3,000 lbs. In case excessive pressure should be developed in the duct 25, it will be relieved through a check valve controlled relief port 26. It will be understood by those skilled in the art that with this construction, a continuous stream of grease might be supplied to a bearing and at the same time hammer-like pulsations could be set up in said stream so as to loosen or free frozen or rusty bearings and permit the grease to enter the bearings.

In Figure 7 I have shown a modification of the feeding device E wherein a plurality of comblike fingers 21 are provided instead of the flanges I3. These fingers will more thoroughly agitate or break up the substance dispensed.

A modification of the apparatus is shown in Figures 8 and 9 where instead of the outlet check valve 24 and the relief valve 26, an adjustable relief valve 29 is provided for relieving the pressure from the cylinder 39 of the reciprocating piston 3| that corresponds to the piston 20. The valve 29 is shown as a spring seated ball check valve which controls the'relief from the cylinder 36 back to the container A through a port 32. This valve is adjustable and as shown a plunger 33 abuts the ball 29 and may be moved in one direction to unseat the ball by a sliding wedge 34 operable in one direction by a finger piece 35 and in the other direction by a spring 36, the plunger 33 being retractable from the ball by a spring 31. With this arrangement the pressure generated in the cylinder 39 may be regulated and if desired the pressure may be substantially completely relieved during operation of the piston 3! while the outlet nozzle I7 is closed.

Another form of the invention is shown in Figure 10 where only a pulsating stream at relatively high pressure is produced, the gear pump serving to supply the substance being dispensed to a reciprocating pump which dispenses the substance at high pressure and in a pulsating stream. Here the gear pump and its driving mechanism will be the same as that hereinbefore described, but the pump outlet 38 communicates with an inlet chamber 39 for a pump cylinder 40 the outlet of which is controlled by an outwardly opening check valve 4| which controls the flow from the cylinder to a discharge pipe 42. Cooperating with the pump cylinder 49 is a reciprocating piston 49 like the piston 20 which is slid in one direction by a cam 44 like the cam I9 and in the opposite direction by a spring 45.

With this construction, the substance i constantly supplied by the gear pump to the pump inlet 39 of the reciprocating pump cylinder 49, and the piston 43 is rapidly reciprocated to force the substance from said cylinder into the discharge pipe 42 at high pressure, the dispensed stream thus issuing from the hose with hammerlike pulsations. To compensate the constant feed by the gear pump and the momentary stoppage of flow from the chamber 39 while the piston 43 is in the cylinder 40, a reciprocating relief valve 46 is connected to the outlet passage 38 of the gear pump, said valve being normally spring pressed by a spring 41 against the pressure of the gear pump. Should the pressure become excessive, the valve 46 will be forced past a relief duct 48 to permit the relief of the pressure from the pump outlet into the container A.

Another feature of the invention is a regulatable relief for the discharge passage, and this comprises a by-pass 49 from the discharge pipe 42 back to the container, 2. check valve 50 for controlling said by-pass, and an auxiliary relief duct 5| into the container controllable by a needle valve 52. This needle valve may be closed by the operator when the pump is started and may be opened during temporary closing of the outlet nozzle IT, for example during a lubricating job, to relieve the load on the electric motor when no discharge is required in the nozzle II. This valve may also be cracked when the pressure generated by the reciprocating pump is too high for a particular job and a lower pressure is desired.

Figure 11 shows a similar regulatable relief valve combined with the gear pump alone and without the high pressure reciprocating pump. In this apparatus, the outlet passage 53 of the gear pump is connected directly to the discharge passage 54 which corresponds to the passage 42 of Figure 10, but the relief valves 50 and 52 are identical with those shown in Figure and connected to the outlet passage and to the container A in the same manner.

It will be understood that in both forms of Figures 10 and 11 the relief valves are embodied in a plug-like fitting 55 which i secured in an opening 56 in the container A. In Figure 10 the fitting is welded into the container wall while in Figure 11 the fitting is screw-threaded into the container wall and locked by nuts 58.

In the apparatus shown in Figures 1 to 10 inclusive, the cams for operating the reciprocating pump pistons are connected to the slow speed counter drive shaft of the gear pump so that the pump piston reciprocates at low speed and the pulsations in the stream of the dispensed substance are at low frequencies. Should it be desired to increase the frequency of the pulsations, the operating cam may be connected directly to the main drive shaft 8 as shown in Figures 12 and 13. Here the shaft 8 is extended as indicated at 60 and has an eccentric pin 6| on one end thereof which is disposed in a slot 62 in the head of a reciprocating pump piston 83 which is mounted in a cylinder 64 the outlet of which communicates with a discharge passage '65 with which also communicates the outlet passage 66 of the gear pump F. Communication between the discharge passage 65 and the outlet hose 5 is controlled by an outlet check valve 61.

In operation of this form of the invention, the substance from the container A is pumped at relatively low pressure by the pump F into the discharge chamber 65 and through the outlet 6 check valve 61 through the hose 16. At the same time, the piston 63 is reciprocated at high speed so as to et up pulsations in the stream of substance being discharged by the pump F.

While I have shown and described several em bodiments of my invention, it should be understood that this is primarily for the purpose of illustrating the now preferred forms of the apparatus and that many modifications and changes can be made in the details of construction of the apparatus within the spirit and scope of the invention.

I claim:

Dispensing apparatu comprising a container for a fluent substance, a gear pump for discharging said substance from said container in a continuous stream under pressure having an inlet opening into said container and :also having an outlet, a discharge passage communicating with said outlet, a cylinder whose outlet communicate with said discharge passage, and a piston reciprocable in said cylinder for causing pulsations in said continuous stream of substance, a check valve between said cylinder outlet and the discharge passage and a check valve between said discharge passage and said outlet of the pump, whereby said substance may be discharged in a continuous stream at low pressure through said discharge passage and said piston will cause intermittent pulsations of relatively high pressure in said stream.

WILLIAM HARRIGAN.

REFERENfiES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,698,023 Mathewson Jan. 8, 1929 1,879,221 Harrigan Sept. 2'1, 1932 1,898,815 Clapp Feb. 21, 1933 1,908,117 Clapp May 9, 1933 1,991,341 Aycock Feb. 12. 1935 

